Our Secret Diary

Our Secret Diary - When Words Get Twisted

CHAPTER TEN

"Dear Diary,"

"Sometimes the truth doesn't disappear.

It simply gets buried beneath so many other words that nobody knows which one to believe.

Today I learned that people can take something innocent and turn it into something completely different.

And once enough people believe the wrong story...

Does the truth even matter anymore?"

By Tuesday morning, the picture of Ethan and Ava had disappeared from the university's main page.

Unfortunately, the rumor had not.

Lena could feel it everywhere.

In the whispers that stopped whenever she walked past.

In the glances from students she had never spoken to.

In the way some people suddenly seemed interested whenever she and Ethan were together.

She tried not to let it bother her.

She really did.

But by the time she reached class, she was already exhausted.

Maya noticed immediately.

"You didn't sleep well."

Lena looked at her.

"How do you know?"

"You have that face."

"What face?"

"The 'I spent half the night thinking about something I shouldn't be thinking about' face."

Chloe smiled.

"She's right."

Lena sighed.

"I slept."

"That wasn't the question."

"I slept enough."

Maya sat beside her.

"Still thinking about Ethan?"

Lena looked away.

"Maybe."

"You're allowed to."

"I know."

"Then stop acting guilty."

Lena smiled faintly.

"I'm trying."

Before Maya could respond, Professor Harris entered the classroom.

Everyone settled down.

For the first half of the lecture, Lena managed to focus.

Then something happened.

A folded piece of paper landed on her desk.

She looked around.

Nobody seemed to be watching.

She unfolded it.

There was one sentence written inside.

"Don't get too comfortable with Ethan."

Lena's stomach tightened.

She looked toward the students behind her.

Nothing.

She folded the paper again and slipped it into her notebook.

Maya noticed.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Lena."

"It's nothing."

Maya studied her face.

Then she reached for the paper.

Lena hesitated before handing it over.

Maya read it.

Her expression immediately changed.

"Who gave you this?"

"I don't know."

Chloe leaned over.

"What happened?"

Maya showed her.

Chloe frowned.

"That's weird."

"Very."

Lena looked toward the front of the classroom.

"Maybe someone is joking."

"That's not funny," Maya said.

Lena didn't answer.

But deep down, she had a feeling she knew where it came from.

---

During lunch, Lena tried to forget about the note.

She sat with Maya and Chloe beneath the oak tree.

Then Ava approached.

Sophie and Nicole followed behind her.

"Lena."

Lena looked up.

"Hi."

Ava smiled.

"I wanted to talk to you."

Maya immediately became alert.

"About?"

Ava glanced at her.

"Privately."

Lena looked at Maya.

"It's okay."

Maya didn't look convinced.

Lena stood.

"What do you want to talk about?"

Ava folded her arms.

"I think you know."

Lena frowned.

"I don't."

"Ethan."

There it was again.

Lena's stomach tightened.

"What about him?"

Ava smiled politely.

"I've noticed you've been spending a lot of time together."

"We're partners."

"I know."

"Then what's the problem?"

Ava's expression remained calm.

"There isn't one."

"Then why are we having this conversation?"

Sophie stepped forward.

"Ava is only trying to avoid unnecessary drama."

Lena looked at her.

"What drama?"

Nicole laughed softly.

"You really don't know?"

"Know what?"

Ava sighed.

"People are talking."

"People always talk."

"About you and Ethan."

Lena folded her arms.

"There's nothing between us."

Ava raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?"

Lena stared at her.

"Yes."

"Good."

Ava smiled.

"Then we shouldn't have a problem."

She turned to leave.

Lena watched her go.

Maya immediately walked over.

"What was that?"

"I don't know."

Chloe looked toward Ava.

"She was definitely trying to intimidate you."

Lena shook her head.

"I don't want problems."

Maya sighed.

"Unfortunately, you don't always get to choose."

---

That afternoon, Ethan found Lena in the library.

"You've been avoiding me."

She looked up.

"I haven't."

"You didn't answer my message."

"I was busy."

He sat down.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

He studied her.

"You don't seem okay."

Lena closed her notebook.

"I'm fine."

"Lena."

She looked at him.

"Why do you keep asking?"

"Because I care."

The words came out before he could stop them.

Silence.

Lena's heart skipped.

Ethan seemed equally surprised.

He looked away.

"I mean..."

"I know what you mean."

Neither spoke for several seconds.

Then Ethan noticed the folded paper sticking out of her notebook.

"What's that?"

"Nothing."

He reached toward it.

She pulled it away.

"Ethan."

"What is it?"

Lena hesitated.

Then she handed it to him.

He read it.

His expression immediately hardened.

"Who gave you this?"

"I don't know."

"Was it Ava?"

"I don't know."

Ethan looked angry.

"She shouldn't be doing this."

"You don't know that she did."

"I know her."

"That doesn't mean—"

"Lena."

He lowered his voice.

"Don't let anyone make you feel like you don't belong here."

She stared at him.

"I don't."

"You do."

His voice was quiet but certain.

"You deserve to be here."

Something about those words made Lena's chest tighten.

She smiled.

"Thank you."

Ethan smiled back.

For a moment, the tension disappeared.

Then they returned to their project.

But neither could concentrate as easily as before.

---

Later that day, Ethan confronted Ava.

He found her outside the student center.

"Did you give Lena a note?"

Ava looked surprised.

"What note?"

"Don't play games."

She frowned.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Ethan..."

Sophie stepped forward.

"Why are you accusing her?"

"Because someone threatened Lena."

Nicole crossed her arms.

"Threatened?"

"It's not a joke."

Ava looked at Ethan.

"I didn't do it."

He stared at her.

"Then prove it."

Her expression hardened.

"I don't have to prove anything."

"You do if you're involved."

Ava took a step closer.

"Why are you so protective of her?"

Ethan didn't answer.

That silence told her more than words could.

Ava's eyes narrowed.

"You're falling for her."

Ethan looked away.

"That's none of your business."

Ava's expression changed.

For the first time, she wasn't smiling.

"Maybe it should be."

Ethan shook his head.

"Ava, whatever you think is happening between us..."

He paused.

"...you need to stop."

He walked away.

Sophie looked at Ava.

"Are you okay?"

Ava remained silent.

Nicole shook her head.

"This isn't over."

Ava looked toward the direction Ethan had gone.

"No."

Her voice was quiet.

"It isn't."

---

That night, Lena sat on her bed with her diary.

She opened it.

For a while, she didn't write.

Then she began.

"Dear Diary,

Today Ethan told me I belong.

I don't think he knows how much those words meant to me.

I also realized something.

When he is around, I feel safe.

When he isn't, I notice.

Maybe that's what scares me most.

I'm getting attached.

And I don't know whether that's a good thing."

She closed the diary.

Across campus, Ethan sat at his desk.

He opened his.

"Dear Diary,

Today I realized I can't stand seeing Lena hurt.

I wanted to protect her.

I wanted to tell her everything.

But I'm still afraid.

Maybe one day I'll have enough courage.

For now, I'll stay close.

Even if she only sees me as a friend."

He closed the diary.

Outside, the campus was quiet.

But the silence wouldn't last.

Because Ava had just discovered something she hadn't expected.

Ethan wasn't simply interested in Lena.

He was beginning to care about her.

And that realization had changed everything.